Holy Thursday Allocution

We thank everyone who makes this broadcast possible, today, Thursday, April 1, the day the Church celebrates the institution of the Eucharist.

Saint Paul, in the first letter to the Corinthians, chapter 11, verses 23 to 26, tells us what happened.

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(Song)

Because Jesus is in the Tabernacle, present in the form of bread, we can speak to him as the people of his time in Palestine spoke to him, and we are going to do it with the same words that his ears of flesh heard then.

Let us revive our faith in the presence of Jesus Blessed by repeating the words of the apostle Saint Thomas: My Lord and my God.

Let us confess the divinity of Jesus Christ with the words of Saint Peter in Caesarea Philippi: You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Let’s tell him with Nathaniel: You are the Son of God, you are the King of Israel.

Let us respond like Martha, the sister of Lazarus, when Jesus said to her: I am the Resurrection and the Life, whoever believes in me, even if he had died, will live and everyone who lives and believes in me will not die eternally. Do you believe this? Yes sir. I believe that you are Christ, the Son of the living God who has come into this world.

But let us also humbly say with the apostles: Lord, increase our faith.

Or with the father of the lunatic: I believe Lord, but help my disbelief.

Let us acclaim Jesus Sacramented as the angels do to God made man on Christmas night: Glory to God in heaven, and on earth peace to the men whom the Lord loves.

Like the good woman of the crowd: Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts that fed you.

Or like the simple people through the streets of Jerusalem on Palm Sunday: Hosanna to the Son of David, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest.

Let us proclaim our happiness in knowing that we have it with us: Blessed are the eyes that see what we see, and the ears that hear what we hear, because many patriarchs and prophets wanted to see it and did not see it, hear it and did not hear it.

Let us recognize that we do not deserve it by humbly saying to him like the centurion: Lord, I am not worthy of you entering my house, but a word from you will be enough to heal me.

And as we feel privileged with faith and participation in the Eucharist, let us say with Saint Peter on Mount Tabor: Lord, how good we are here.

And let us force him not to leave, begging him with the disciples of Emmaus: Stay with us Lord, for it is getting dark.

Remember Lord that you told us: Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you.

Today we ask you Lord, with faith and with the words of all those in need of the Gospel for all our spiritual and material needs: Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on us.

We are all stained, that is why we ask you with the leper: Lord, if you want, you can cleanse me.

We are all groping to see your truth, so like the blind of the gospel we pray to you: Lord, may our eyes be opened and we see.

It is often difficult for us to understand your teaching of renunciation and sacrifice, so we ask you with the apostles: Explain to us, Lord, this parable.

We know many sick in body and soul and thinking of them, like Martha and Mary, referring to Lazarus we remind you: Lord, the one you love is sick.

We need the spiritual food that is yourself. Instructed by your word we ask you like the crowds of Capernaum, but with greater knowledge of the facts: Lord, always give us that bread.

Or with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well: Lord, always give us that water so that we will never thirst again..

And because we don’t know what else we should ask for, we tell you: Teach us to pray.

Our father…

(Song)

The apostle Saint John, in his gospel chapter 13, verses 1 to 15, tells us what happened that the apostles did not expect.

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Two brothers lived fully what Jesus told us to do.

A long time ago there was an old man who had two children and it was time for him to die. He called his two sons and told them that he was going to divide the field between them. To the eldest son who had been with him the longest and who knew him best, he gave the most difficult part of the field, because he was sure that he would know how to cultivate it. He gave the youngest the lower part of the field, the best, because he had not been with his father as long as the other and did not know as well as he did how to cultivate the land. And he told them to always remember that they were his children and they were always brothers. Shortly after the old man died and the two sons took over their share of the land and began their lives.

Time passed, and the brothers barely saw each other, so dedicated were they both to their occupations.

One day, the older brother was counting the sheaves of wheat in his barn and wondered how his younger brother was doing. He thought: I’ve had a good harvest, I’m going to bring him some bundles of ears tonight. I’ll leave them in his barn without him knowing. He counted twelve sheaves of wheat, went out into the darkness of the night, and secretly left them with his brother. Meanwhile, the younger brother was also thinking about his older brother: He inherited the poorest land. MY harvest has been especially good this year. I think I’m going to grab some sheaves for him and leave them in his barn. He counted twelve sheaves, went out into the darkness of the night and left them in the barn. The two brothers went to bed feeling very happy.

The next morning the two were in their barn and counting the sheaves, they wondered how, having given twelve sheaves to the other brother, it seemed that they still had them. The two decided to repeat the operation. And so, that night they counted another twelve sheaves and to that gift the two added a jar full of olives. They passed each other in the dark, without seeing each other, and left everything in each other’s barn. And again on the third morning they counted the sheaves and saw that they still had the same number, as well as the same jar of olives. That night each one took his donkey, put a skin of wine on it and left for the other’s barn.

But in the sky that day a splendid full moon was shining, like the one today. They met in the middle of the road, at the edge of their lands. When they realized what they were doing for each other, they hugged each other, crying with emotion, remembering their dad and praising God.

It is an old story but we can make it present today in our home, in our family, in our neighborhood, in our work.

What happiness multiplied in heaven for our deceased parents who taught us to treat each other as brothers!

What joy is that of Jesus Christ to see that these two brothers have washed their feet!

What joy and happiness for the Virgin Mary to know that there are her children who love each other with an extraordinary love!

Tonight, this Holy Week, share with your brothers, help your brothers, and you will feel great happiness that will later be multiplied in heaven.

(Song)

As we do in the Eucharistic exposition we praise Jesus Christ:

Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true Man. Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true Man.

Blessed be his most precious Blood. Blessed be his most precious Blood.

Blessed be Jesus, in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar. Blessed be Jesus, in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar.

Blessed be Jesus, spiritual food of our souls. Blessed be Jesus, spiritual food of our souls.

Blessed be Jesus, medicine against sin and evil. Blessed be Jesus, medicine against sin and evil.

Blessed be Jesus, strength for our mission to love. Blessed be Jesus, strength for our mission to love.

Blessed be Jesus, peace in suffering. Blessed be Jesus, peace in suffering.

Blessed be Jesus, common union with God the Father. Blessed be Jesus, common union with God the Father.

Blessed be Jesus, common-union with family and friends. Blessed be Jesus, common-union with family and friends.

Blessed be Jesus, bridge of common union with enemies. Blessed be Jesus, bridge of common union with enemies.

Blessed be Jesus, truth of God, of the Church and of human dignity. Blessed be Jesus, truth of God, of the Church and of human dignity.

Blessed be Jesus, I walk towards the house of heaven. Blessed be Jesus, I walk towards the house of heaven.

At this moment we prepare to make spiritual communion:

Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, intoxicate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, comfort me.
Oh, good Jesus! Hear me.
Inside your wounds, hide me.
Don’t let me separate from You.
From the enemy, defend me.
At the hour of my death, call me.
And command me to come to You.
So that with your saints I may praise you.
Forever and ever. Amen.

Passion of Christ, comfort me.
Oh, good Jesus! Hear me.
Inside your wounds, hide me.
Don’t let me separate from You.
From the enemy, defend me.
At the hour of my death, call me.
And command me to come to You.
May I praise you with your saints.
Forever and ever. Amen.

And the blessing of Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, descend upon all the brothers and remain forever. Amen.

 

(Song)